Final week I spent 2 days in Washington, DC on a Beautycounter advocacy journey. Right here’s the recap!
Beautycounter Advocacy Journey to DC
Final week I went to Washington, DC with Beautycounter to foyer for transparency and elevated regulation within the magnificence business.
Our meals business is very regulated, however the magnificence business isn’t…but.
Consequently, probably dangerous elements are allowed for use in on a regular basis magnificence merchandise. Shoppers should know what’s within the merchandise they use and everybody in our nation ought to have the ability to stroll right into a drug retailer and know that what they’re buying is freed from poisonous chemical substances.
There are loopholes and an absence of transparency throughout the wonder business. Anybody can put the phrase “clear” on their merchandise. However that phrase isn’t regulated.
The European Union has banned or restricted 1,400 elements from private care merchandise. However the U.S. has banned or restricted solely 30. The U.S. has not handed a significant federal regulation governing the cosmetics business since 1938. That’s virtually a century. Consider all that has modified since then.
Because it was based in 2013, Beautycounter has been advocating for brand new legal guidelines that increase transparency within the business and get nearer to making sure that every one private care merchandise (not simply Beautycounter’s) are secure and free from dangerous elements. And that they’re broadly accessible.
Some advocacy wins
You possibly can be taught extra about Beautycounter’s advocacy initiatives and successes on this web page.
Listed here are some highlights:
- Greater than 2,100 conferences, 16,000 calls, and 200,000 emails within the battle for change
- First clear magnificence CEO to seem earlier than a Congressional Committee (yay Gregg!)
- Safer Perfume Invoice – a step in direction of closing the loophole in perfume
- Poisonous-Free Cosmetics Act in California
On the finish of the day, the dialog about clear goes past make-up and encompasses our well being and the atmosphere too. As a B Company, Beautycounter is defending the well being of the planet with issues for sustainability, carbon footprint, moral and accountable sourcing, and testing each ingredient batch that is available in.
Marketing consultant representatives
The journey was earned by state. And I used to be representing Virginia! Consultants from everywhere in the nation, together with Hawaii and Alaska descended upon the Fairmont Resort in Georgetown for 2 days of conferences, networking, and advocacy. And naturally, socializing!
Welcome Reception
The occasion began with a welcome reception.
There have been stations of seafood, kebobs, veggies, and in addition charcuterie.
I made some new associates! Shoutout to Shayna!
Our founder, Gregg Renfrew, introduced us along with a motivating speech about our mission: getting safer merchandise into the palms of everybody.
Images on the Lincoln Memorial
The following morning we loved breakfast after which headed to the Lincoln Memorial for a photoshoot!
Beautycounter Advocacy Conferences
On Wednesday morning after breakfast, we broke out into small teams to fulfill with a scheduled set of Congressional staffers over Zoom. Sadly, as a result of pandemic, conferences are nonetheless principally digital (particularly since we had been a big group).
My group was principally East Coasters, and we met with the workplaces of:
- Sen. Richard Burr (NC)
- Sen. Tim Kaine (VA)
- Sen. Tim Scott (SC)
- Rep. Elaine Luria (VA)
- Majority Chief Steny Hoyer (MD)
- Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD)
Whereas the conferences had been principally with employees members of their workplaces, we did really feel like we had been plugged proper in. A constituent from the state opened the assembly. After which we gave them an introduction to Beautycounter, went over related payments, shared tales, and requested questions.
The payments we mentioned
- Senate: The Private Care Merchandise Security Act
- Home: Safer Magnificence Invoice Bundle which incorporates
- Poisonous-Free Magnificence Act
- Beauty Provide Chain Transparency Act
- Beauty Security for Communities of Coloration and Skilled Salon Employees Act
- Beauty Perfume and Taste Ingredient Proper To Know Act
These payments would create a system for the FDA to assessment elements for security, enable merchandise with detrimental well being impacts to be recalled from the market, and assist defend shoppers from dangerous elements with out having to know elements to keep away from.
Lunch Break
As a result of this weblog known as Kath Eats, I’ve to share the scrumptious wholesome lunch we had! Quinoa salad, soup, grilled salmon. And actually scrumptious double chocolate cookies!
The way it went
I used to be undoubtedly nervous!! However my talking elements went easily. And I really feel like I do know much more about beauty reform after this present day!
It was fantastic to listen to the tales from different consultants of why they selected to associate with the corporate. And it was superior to see the reactions of a few of our viewers after they discovered that the very merchandise they obtained prepared with that morning might need elements that had been recognized endocrine disruptors or hyperlinks to most cancers.
Down Time
After our final assembly, I went again to my room for some downtime. I used to be speculated to have a roommate, however she cancelled on the final minute. So except for being up all night time Tuesday ready for her to reach and feeling tremendous drained, I had my room to myself. Which was superb!!
I additionally took a brief nap and met Shayna for a stroll round Georgetown. Undoubtedly wanted the recent air!!
Our Celebration
Wednesday night, everybody donned their robes. After which we departed for the Library of Congress for a celebration.
I really like the brand new costume and footwear I obtained for the event. (I needed to have the costume hemmed, FYI!)
This actually was one of the lovely events I’ve ever been to! The Library ceiling was so gorgeous. And the setting was magical.
We loved drinks and apps after which sat all the way down to dinner. I had halibut and in addition probably the most scrumptious hazelnut dessert.
Our honored visitor for the night was Rep. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois who’s the lead sponsor for the Safer Magnificence Invoice Bundle. In truth, she is a firecracker of a lady and had us all laughing together with her speak!
After which after dinner, she crushed the dance ground.
Science Symposium
We wrapped up our journey on Thursday morning with a science symposium and panel of 4 completely different specialists unbiased of Beautycounter sharing their information with us. Telling us what we’re doing proper, how we are able to enhance, and past.
Our in-person panelists had been Dr. Leo Trasande, MD, MPP, a pediatric specialist and writer of Sicker, Fatter, Poorer, and Dr. Lora Shahine, MD, FACOG (she’s very energetic on social media) who’s an OB-GYN specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. On Zoom, we had Dr. Boma Brown-West, MD from the Environmental Protection Fund and Dr. Kim Harley, PhD.
We spent plenty of time discussing endocrine disruptors in private care merchandise and their hyperlink to most cancers, infertility, miscarriage, coronary heart illness, and extra. They shared some information from research that linked BPA in girls’s blood to miscarriage. And PFAS’ hyperlink to physique metabolism.
Many ladies are motivated to wash up their well being when they’re making an attempt to conceive or when pregnant. However we should keep in mind to teach our teenage daughters as they’re going by adolescence, too. One examine discovered that when teenagers switched from paraben merchandise to these with out, they’d a 25-45% lower in parabens of their our bodies in simply THREE DAYS. That could be a enormous drop! Beautycounter’s objective is to arm individuals with schooling with out fear-mongering. And we mentioned how to try this successfully.
We additionally mentioned fairness on the core of the clear magnificence motion. And the way girls of colour carry a a lot greater poisonous load. Advocacy begins with schooling so that offer and demand could be tipped.
I say this usually about meals but it surely applies right here too:
For those who can afford to vote together with your {dollars}, DO IT. Firms see change in demand and improve provide, and Congress will lastly change the legal guidelines. In order that those that can’t afford to purchase serums can have entry to safer merchandise by the entire business.
Beautycounter Advocacy Video
Need to be taught extra? Begin by watching this video:
Are you obsessed with higher magnificence?
Being a Beautycounter guide is about a lot greater than promoting skincare. Our main objectives are to teach, advocate, and in addition market superb merchandise that lead the business in security.
If this subject is in any respect one thing you’re obsessed with too, it is best to think about turning into a guide! It’s the easiest way to plug in to those vital points with a group of like-minded individuals. I’ve a weblog submit with plenty of FAQs about being a guide right here. E-mail me to kath at katheats.com for those who’re inquisitive about chatting!
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